Discovering the World of Steampunk

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While I’m best known for writing Irish crime thrillers, I’ve occasionally stepped outside that world. To date, I’ve contributed to just a handful of anthologies—but one in particular stands out: Cogs in Time, a steampunk collection created by Catherine Stovall with a striking cover designed by Rue Volley, 

Both accomplished writers in their own right, they invited me to submit a story for the anthology. There was just one problem—I wasn’t entirely sure what steampunk was.

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Like any writer faced with unfamiliar territory, I started with research. That led me to The Steampunk Bible, a beautifully produced and comprehensive guide to the genre. It opened up an imaginative world of alternative history, Victorian aesthetics, and speculative invention.

Steampunk, at its core, blends history with imagination—taking the past and asking “what if?”

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Influences Behind The Properties of Mercury

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With a clearer understanding of the genre, I began writing my story: The Properties of Mercury.

In many ways, it became a return to the writers I loved growing up:

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• H.G. Wells and The Time Machine

• Jules Verne and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

• The often-overlooked Rivals of Sherlock Holmes stories

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One particular influence stood out—The Case of Laker, Absconded. Its tone and structure helped shape my own approach to storytelling within a Victorian setting.

The result was a story rooted in classic adventure and mystery, but filtered through the prism of steampunk, continuing the Story: Wentworth & Devereux.

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I enjoyed writing The Properties of Mercury far more than I expected. So much so that I continued the story, expanding the world and characters in a follow-up tale: The Mandarin Cipher.

Both stories follow the adventures of Wentworth and Devereux—characters shaped by the intrigue, manners, and tensions of the Victorian era.

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Is Steampunk “Lazy History”?

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There’s a perception in some circles that steampunk is simply “lazy history”—a genre that borrows heavily from the past without fully committing to it.

I’d argue the opposite.

 

To make steampunk work, you need to get three things right:

• Dialogue – it must feel authentic to the period

• Historical grounding – even in an alternative timeline

• Atmosphere – the world must feel lived-in and believable

 

Get those right, and you don’t just have an imitation of history—you have a compelling and immersive story.

 

Stepping Outside the Crime Genre

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Although my primary focus remains crime fiction, working on steampunk stories was a rewarding creative exercise. It allowed me to revisit early literary influences while experimenting with a completely different tone and setting.

 

For readers, it offers something a little different—but still grounded in strong storytelling, character, and atmosphere.

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Final Thoughts

Steampunk may not be my usual territory, but it reminded me of something essential about writing: sometimes the best work comes from stepping into the unknown.

And occasionally, that unknown leads somewhere worth returning to.